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Deposits

Security deposit law in Nevada

Nevada's cap, return deadline, itemization rule, and wrongful-withholding penalty, with the controlling statute linked.

4 min read

Short answer

Nevada caps a security deposit at three months' rent, and the deposit must be returned within 30 days. Wrongful withholding exposure is up to actual damages plus the amount. The controlling text is Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242, verified July 2026; confirm the current statute before acting, since legislatures amend deposit law and cities layer stricter rules on top.

Three months' rent. The return rule is 30 days. The controlling text is Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242.

Shared move-in, deduction, and refund workflow: the national state-law hub.

Nevada's deposit ceiling

Three months' rent.

Nevada's ceiling of three months' rent is the highest statutory cap in the country.

Nevada's return deadline

30 days.

You have 30 days after the tenancy ends to return the deposit or deliver an itemized written accounting of any deductions with the balance.

The itemized statement rule

An itemized written accounting of each deduction is required within 30 days. Withholding for ordinary wear is not permitted.

Account and interest rules

Nevada sets no separate-account or interest requirement. Hold the deposit apart from operating cash regardless.

Exposure for wrongful withholding

Up to actual damages plus the amount.

A landlord who fails to provide the itemized accounting or wrongfully withholds is liable for the amount due plus damages, which a court can set at up to the actual harm proven. The written accounting inside 30 days is the defense.

Compare Nevada with neighboring states

  • California: one month's rent; return rule: 21 days.
  • Oregon: no statutory limit; return rule: 31 days.
  • Idaho: no statutory limit; return rule: 21 days.
  • Utah: no statutory limit; return rule: 30 days.
  • Arizona: one and a half months' rent; return rule: 14 business days.

Verified against Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242 and official state sources in July 2026. Before withholding money, check the current statute text or ask a local landlord-tenant attorney. General information, not legal advice.

Questions landlords actually ask

Does Nevada cap residential security deposits?
Three months' rent. Nevada's ceiling of three months' rent is the highest statutory cap in the country.
What is the security deposit return deadline in Nevada?
30 days. You have 30 days after the tenancy ends to return the deposit or deliver an itemized written accounting of any deductions with the balance.
What itemization does Nevada require?
An itemized written accounting of each deduction is required within 30 days. Withholding for ordinary wear is not permitted.
What is the wrongful-withholding exposure in Nevada?
Up to actual damages plus the amount. A landlord who fails to provide the itemized accounting or wrongfully withholds is liable for the amount due plus damages, which a court can set at up to the actual harm proven. The written accounting inside 30 days is the defense.